Caption: A fifth grader reads his book on the playground during a DEAR (drop everything and read) event. [by Dr. Cristina Meier]
by Nicholas Liu and Bernardo Regis
São Paulo, SP- PACA’s elementary reading contest is back with a roaring blast as the elementary students contemplate how to “Be a Readersaurus,” the theme of this year’s activities. The contest began on October 19th and ends on the 13th of November.
The reading contest is an annual event to encourage elementary students to read. Mrs. Gabriela Freitas, the elementary school coordinator, helps to support the elementary teachers and the librarians to plan special events throughout the days of the reading contest so that it will be an opportunity for all students to fall in love with reading.
Video production by Nicholas Liu with the help of Bernardo Regis
Every year there is a different event to encourage students with their reading skills. It is something creative that makes the students excited. The first thing the students enjoy doing is dressing up in different themes through the reading contest.
They began by participating in the high school STUCO Spirit Week from October 19-23. Then, they were able to dress up as a book character on October 28.
Third Grade student, Ella Mendes, dressed up as Fancy Nancy. “I like her, because she talks about lots of different stuff.”
Fifth grade student, Sara Silva, dressed up as Anne of Green Gables, because she likes the books and the movies that have been made about this character.
“I recommend you read this book,” said Silva about L.M. Montgomery’s book, “Anne of Green Gables.”
The next dress up event was on Wednesday, November 4 in which everyone was encouraged to dress up as dinosaurs. Finally, they will have another book character dress up day on November 11.
Besides dressing up, the students also participate in “DEAR” events. This is an acronym which means “ drop everything and read.” They will have two times to do this activity this year. The first time happened on October 27 during the last period of the day. The next time will remain undisclosed so that the students can be surprised on the day that it happens.
Freitas said everything about dinosaurs is related in the “Be a Readersaurus” theme, so there are dinosaurs, caveman and jungle related decorations to be found all over campus. For example, the library has a cave through the stairs to the library. It always makes the kids excited when they are entering the cave.
To make this contest fair, students need to read their books during their free time. It is a trust-based system. Children take home a reading log, and parents sign the log every day the child reads the number of minutes designated to their age.
Because of the massive age difference between the fifth graders and the kindergarteners, there is a different reading expectation times for each grade level.
Kindergarten and first graders read 15 minutes per day and they are the only classes in which their parents can read for them. The second and third graders read 20 minutes per day. While the fourth and fifth graders read a total of 25 minutes per day.
Although it is just the beginning, students are committed to read at their hardest and have a wonderful time.
Because this is mainly about reading, our library is decorated with dinosaurs. Mrs. Vanessa Flurry, the librarian is one of the teachers who shows the students the fun in reading
”I love it when a student opens a book and discovers another world, a new adventure to conquer,” said Flurry. “Reading is freedom! During this month our elementary students are challenged to take the next step and reach for the next level in their reading. When our students are ecstatic about what they accomplished, I am filled with joy! They return their logs and have a new realization…they are able to achieve something that they thought was impossible.”
The Reading Contest takes place between the months of October and November and includes other activities, such as an Author visit, a dinosaur quest in the auditorium, reading buddy time and a book swap. To celebrate their progress, the students are able to receive a prize every week for their hard work. A wonderful life lesson that can carry them for the rest of their lives.
The contest will end with special ice cream treats given to students in the minicapo on November 16. Students who had the most participation in reading will receive special recognition.
